Oct. 26, 2002
West Lafayette, Ind. - Purdue's senior Scott Mayer went undefeated in singles and doubles play in his first day of competition at the Omni Hotels/ITA Midwest Regional Championships on Saturday at the Nielsen Tennis Center.
The Boilermaker teamed up with junior Troy Havens to win their first doubles match, and both won first-round singles matches thereafter. The pair won their doubles title with and 8-3 margin over Chicago State's Robert Gates and Anand Mukherjee.
After demonstrating a sense of team chemistry with Havens, Mayer's ability to convert his stellar doubles play into singles paid off, as he was able to pull off victories in the first and second rounds of singles.
Mayer won the first round 6-4, 6-0 over Michigan's Cameron Marshall and then defeated Jackie Jenkins of Northwestern 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Purdue coach Tim Madden was thrilled with Mayer's clutch performance.
"Scott was able to get through two rounds and it was nice to see him battle through a difficult first set and early in the second set," Madden said. "He kind of channeled some negative energy into positive games in terms of getting after and taking control of the net and really found his game in the third set."
In the first round of singles, Havens defeated Nick Lopez-Acevedo of Notre Dame 3-6, 7-6, 6-3. The junior went into the second round with the ability to win another; however, the Boilermaker couldn't come out with a second victory of his own. Paulo Carvahlo of Louisville defeated Havens 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
In other action, Purdue senior Andrew Wakefield also won his first round over Robert Shamelikian of UW Green Bay 7-6, 6-1. Wakefield lost to the Fighting Illini's Rlyer Deheart 6-3, 7-6 in the second round.
Despite a couple second round failures, Madden feels his team competed well and hopes the Boilermaker trio will continue their efforts when they continue play tomorrow in the second day of Regionals in Madison, Wis.
"We lost to guys over executing better team plans and we have to give them credit," Madden said. "We competed well, I thought Andrew and Troy both did a good job at competing, but just aren't quite sharp enough at this point in the year against their opponents. Hopefully Scott will be able to continue one round of singles tomorrow, and two rounds of doubles."
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Doubles
1. Mayer/Havens (P) def. Gates/Mukherjee (Chicago State) 8-3
Singles (First Round)
1. Mayer (P) def. Marshall (Michigan) 6-4, 6-02. Havens (P)def. Lopez-Acevedo (ND) 3-6, 7-6, 6-33. Wakefield (P) def. Shamelikian (UW GB) 7-6, 6-1
Singles (Second Round)
1. Mayer (P) def. Jenkins (NWestern) 4-6, 6-3, 6-12. Paulo Carvahlo (Louisville) def. Havens (P) 6-4, 3-6, 6-33. Deheart (Illinois) def. Wakefield (P) 6-3, 7-6